Air freshener device



Dec. 31, 1968 J. D. WHITE ET AL AIR FRESHENER DEVICE Sheet of 2 FiledMarch 24. 1967 A/RFLOW INVENTORS JOHN D. WH/TE FIG. 2.

. I III!!! ullllll ll! Ill llvlvl I ufi u l llll ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968J. 0. WHITE ET AL AIR FRESHENER DEVICE Sheet Filed March 24.. 1967INVENTORS ATTORNEY M y j 7 L mm fi/ WB MM 5 w w a DH HHI I l l l II f wz w Q n -3, $5

United States Patent 3,419,217 AIR FRESHENER DEVICE John D. White, 2010Drexel St., Apt. 101, Hyattsville, Md. 20783, and John L. Bailey, 1200James St., Baltimore, Md. 21223 Filed Mar. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 625,773 12Claims. (Cl. 23958) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispensing container isdescribed which has a removable drawer for vaporizable material. Anapertured slide plate separates the drawer from a chamber and serves toselectively valve the quantity of vapors arising into the chamber.Mounted to air ducting systems, inlet and outlet ports to the chamberpermit an airflow therethrough which mixes with the vapors. An airflowopera ed gate positioned in the outlet port closes when airflow ceasesand thus confines the vapors to the chamber and retards evaporation ofthe material except when it is required A sail arrangement isalternatively provided to operate the gate when it is on the inlet port.

This invention relates generally to dispensers, and more particularly itpertains to a device for introducing a deodorizer or freshener into anair stream of a ventilating system.

Evaporating types of deodorizing and air freshening materialsdisseminate rapidly even when they are not needed. Besides beingwasteful in this regard, an excess of the vapors is sometimes quitedistasteful.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a dispenserwhich automatically retards the evaporation of the deodorizing materialexcept as it is actually required.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser whichinstalled in the inlet bulkheads of forced air heating or coolingsystems is responsive in action to the negative pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of deodorizingvapors which when installed in outlet ducts of forced air circulatingsystems is responsive to the positive pressure for actuation.

To provide a differential pressure activated evaporator which can beregulated in degree of performance and which economizes on thedeodorant, is yet another object of this invention.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will become morereadily apparent and understood from the following detailedspecification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a novel dispenser of vapors shownmounted on a blower compartment bulkhead incorporating features of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 depictingthe automatic operation of the gate;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FLIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially broken away, of another embodiment ofthe invention as installed on the register plate of an air duct.

Referring now to the details of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and2, reference numeral indicates generally a first embodiment of a novelair freshener dispenser device. This dispenser 10 consists of anenclosure 12 defined by a flanged backplate 14 having a plurality ofapertures 16; by right and left hand endwalls 18 and 20, and

3,419,217 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 a front wall 22 which slopes outwardlyfrom the bottom to the ceiling 24.

This dispenser 10 is intended for use with hot air home heatingfurnaces. It is installed on the suction side of the blower compartmentand is set into a hOle 28 made in the bulkhead 26 or an existing accessport, such as a doorway is utilized. For this purpose, the back plate 14is peripherally extended to accommodate holes for mounting screws 32 andto provide backing for a seal gasket 30.

A removable filter element 34 is mounted in L-shaped flanged brackets 36over a hole 38 in the front wall 22 as best shown in FIG. 3.

A tray 40 holding a freshening agent deodorant 42 is removably supportedbeneath the enclosure 12 on a flange 48. The front edge of the tray 40has a bead 44 which slides into a groove 46 at the lower edge of thefront wall 22. A depending lower edge 50 of the right hand endwall 18serves as a stop for the inserted tray 40.

In this position, the deodorant 42 is exposed for evaporation into thechamber above comprising enclosure 12. An adjustable baffie arrangementis located therebetween so the amount of dissemination can becontrolled. This feature consists of a baflle 52 which stops off half ofthe communicating passageway at the bottom of enclosure 12 and anapertured slide 54 thereunder mounted in horizontal tracks 58. Theapertures 56 occupy only half of the area of the slide as best shown inFIG. 4. They thusly may be covered or uncovered at will by thishalf-baflle 52 by positioning the slide 54 with a finger tab 62 whichprotrudes from a slot 60 in endwall 20.

With all apertures 56 covered, there is no communication from tray 40 tothe enclosure 12. With selectively greater uncoverage of the aperture56, a greater amount of vapor diffusion occurs.

A short duct 64 extends rearwardly from the back plate 14 and hassloping edges 66 against which a lightweight gate 67 rests. The gate 67is mounted at the top on hinges 68 so it can swing as shown by thedot-dashed lines in F116. 3 when a negative pressure exists on that sideof bulkhead 26. Consequently, air is drawn through the filter element34, through the mixing chamber formed by enclosure 12, and together withvapors rising from the agent 42, passes through the raised gate 67 asindicated by the arrows in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 for ultimate distributionthrough the ducting of the heating (or cooling) system of the furnace.

In the modification of the invention, the dispenser 70, as shown in FIG.5, has a similar enclosure and tray arrangement but it is not providedwith a filter element. This dispenser 70 is intended for installation onthe terminal end of ducting 74 in a room wall 72. Reference numeral 76indicates a louvered register which is similar to conventional registersbut has its lower quarter area apertured to receive the dispenser 70.

It will be noted the pressure within duct 74 is positive relative tothat in the room. Consequently, the closure gate 78 (corresponding tothe gate 67 of the previously described embodiment of the dispenser 10)is provided with a sail or upper panel 80. This sail or panel 80 ismounted rigidly to the gate 78 at an obtuse angle and moves with it onthe same hinges.

The usual register gate 84 on hinges 86 may be positioned by finger pull88 to cause the air (straight arrows) in duct 74 to flow and impingeagainst the sail or panel 80. This causes the latter to move againststop 82 and to open the closure gate 78. A portion of the air (curvedarrow) moves through the freshener-charged dispenser 70 and on into theroom.

The register gate 84 is cut away at 85 to clear the sail or panel 80 andallow it to be closed against the louvers of the register 76. For lackof air flow, the sail or panel 80 therefore drops the gate 73 and flowceases through the dispenser 70.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for dispensing vaporizable material, comprising, astructural enclosure defining a chamber, said enclosure having front andrear walls, said front wall having an air inlet port communicating withsaid chamber, said rear wall having an air outlet port communicatingwith said chamber, a tray removably supported beneath said enclosure andcommunicating with said chamber, adjustable means positioned betweensaid tray and said chamber of said structural enclosure for controllingthe air communication therebetween, and a vaporizable material locatedin said tray.

2. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim1, and additionally a removable filter means positioned in said airinlet port of said front wall.

3. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim2, wherein said air outlet port consists of a pluarlity of spacedapertures provided in said rear wall.

4. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim3, wherein the means positioned between said tray and said chamber forcontrolling the communication therebetween of vapors from saidvaporizable material consists of an adjustable baflie member.

5. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim4, and additionally means including an apertured slide member forseparating said tray from said chamber and selectively valving thequantity of vapors arising into said chamber from said vaporizablematerial.

6. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim5, and additionally an airflow operated gate means positioned in saidoutlet port for confining said vapors in said chamber when airflow fromsaid inlet port through said chamber to said outlet port ceases.

7. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim1, and additionally a louvered register 4 means positioned adjacent saidair outlet port of said front wall.

8. A container for dispensing vapori zable material as recited in claim7, wherein said air outlet port consists of a plurality of spacedapertures provided in said rear wall.

9. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim8, wherein the means positioned between said tray and said chamber forcontrolling the communication of vapors from said vaporizable materialconsists of an adjustable bafile member.

10. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as reciied in claim9, and additionally means including an apertured slide member forseparating said tray from said chamber and to selectively valve thequantity of vapors arising into said chamber from said vaporizablematerial.

11. A container for dispensing material as recited in claim 10, andadditionally an airflow operated gate means positioned in said outletport for confining said vapors in said chamber when airflow from saidinlet port through said chamber to said outlet port ceases.

12. A container for vaporizable material as recited in claim 11, andsaid means for controlling the opening and closing of said gate means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 201,054 3/1878 Sexton 98l09206,890 8/1878 McDowell 98109 526,653 9/1894 Iliowizi 98l05 526,92310/1894 Iliowizi 98l09 544,175 8/1895 Iliowizi 98-109 EVERETT W. KIRBY,Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 98105, 109

